Mystic River by Dennis Lehane Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mystic River
Book Review: Shakespearean
Summary: 5 Stars
As someone who spent most of his life in Boston, I naturally gravitated to Lehane's earlier private eye novels. They wonderfully capture the flavor of Dorchester and the whole Boston townie phenomenon. They are also very intelligent, with nuances and layers and themes that most private eye books never come close to. On the strength of the PI books alone, Lehane would have a distinguished place in the pantheon of American fiction writers.
But none of his private eye stories can prepare you for Mystic River. It is a shattering, intense tragedy played on an Irish Catholic Boston stage. It is haunting. It truly is Shakespearean in its scope. Mystic River is not clever entertainment. It is an astounding, original, tragic masterpiece.
Book Review: Slow start, but picks up steam.
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a good book, but I wish I would have skipped the first four chapters. Slow starter. Have to admit, I'm not a big fan of Lehane's writing style. Would have preferred reading the screenplay. Good story line and is worth the read.Book Review: Stream of Consciousness at its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to admit, it took me awhile to tune into Lehane's writing style. He has no compunction about violating most grammar rules we were all taught. Once I surrendered to his unrelenting style, however, I truly enjoyed the unfolding mystery. I've not seen the movie and won't because I don't believe it would be possible to do the book justice.
The plot and ensuing roll out of the characters and their obvious character weaknesses were done artfully. As the story unfolds the reader is spellbound (or at least I was) waiting to see what lie on the next page. It's a rough and tumble book and certainly not for everyone. The ending was disappointing, but at the same time mandatory as it left the reader wanting more.
Book Review: The best mystery I've read in a long time!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great book. It kept me turning the pages long into the night. It was worth the lack of sleep though. This is about 3 main characters forever linked whether they like it or not. Keeps you guessing and you're not sure about the outcome until the very end (which was quite unexpected). Probably one of the best books I've read all year.Book Review: Very Deep Character Study
Summary: 4 Stars
The book presents us with three intriguing friends. Sean, Jimmy and Dave. Sean is the one with everything. Jimmy is the rough one and Dave is the "wierd" one who tags along with Jimmy and Sean. One day Dave is kidnapped by two strange men but a few days later Dave somehow escapes and comes back changed forever.
Twenty years later the three are reunited when Jimmy's daughter is murdered, Sean is the investigating detective and Dave is just acting very "wierd." The book is a little bit slow moving from that point as the psyche of the three former friends is explored and the girl's murder is investigated. This deep understanding of the three keeps the book interesting throughout and each one has his own deep secrets. Then towards the latter part of the book there is a lot of gripping tension. That is what made this book work for me.